Bordeaux/Bordeaux blend theme over lunch at Asia Grand. Drank in Grassl 1855. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, purplish ruby colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of integrating vanilla oak, blackberries, black cherries, purple boysenberries, dark meat, smokiness. Oak all integrated into the dark fruit on day 2. Developing. On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol (14%), fine high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of purple boysenberries, blackberries, black cherries. Passing flavours of sour dark plums, spice, cassis, graphite, black tobacco, tar. Long finish. Very good quality. Complex. Felt that this was on the somewhat young side, and certainly the best is yet to be for this. Maybe another 4-5 years might have served this well. Alas my only bottle as usual. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Malbec.
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What a standout wine - on the nose a bomb, so full of flavours and intensity. blackberry leather pencil shavings thyme and so on. Really a 5* nose. On the palate, the wine is elegant, sophisticated, and well structured. Lacks a bit of mid-body, definitely the wine is at it‘s peak (or 2-3 years over). The finish is forever. Just a fantastic experience and a privilege to drink an aged Nicolas Catena Zapata!
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Wonderful and intense nose of black currant liqueur, black cherry/blueberry preserves, braised meats, and potpourri. Dark fruit, new leather, and lavender flavours. Fine tannins. Full-bodied...umami feel. Structured and dark. Medium-long biting finish on dark chocolate/espresso notes. Amazing with lamb stew! Will hold for another 2-4 years but already great. 94++
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WWC - GA (FWC): Tasted blind - deep red in the glass; it was strange - on the nose I got diesel and raw meat, with maybe a slight blue fruit undertone. I had never experienced the diesel (as opposed to the petrol smell of a riesling). It was certainly complex. High tannins on the palate, and muted and stewed blue and black fruits. I guessed a CDP.
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DnP: some currant on pour; dark ruby; inkwell on nose, medium bodied, increased underbrush mid-palate; smooth tannins with lasting finish; excellent with Perini Ranch steak (if you haven’t had Perini Ranch steak, it is a must)
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This was one of those lone bottles that had been hanging out in my cellar for quite some time. I thought it was 100% malbec, but it is 65% cab and 35% malbec. Really a wonderful wine, nice combination of the classic cab flavors with a touch of spicy-ness from the malbec. Perhaps approaching end of life, tasted like it was beginning the down side.
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A rather nice showing. Pours dark purple. Youthful looking. Nice scents. Clearly Bordeaux blend. Satiny and dense fruit, cassis with a bit of graphite and underbrush. not amazingly compelling though, and not seamless: some stern acids and tannins. On balance, still not living up its price.
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This was much better than previous tastes. This bottle with some development and as such the sous-bois, mushroomy notes are very pleasing alongside the still-vibrant fruit. 91 (+?)
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Monthly Men's Wine Dinner (2120 Restaurant, Seattle): This required a brief decant to open up. I got a smoked meat nose, unusual for a Cabernet-Malbec blend. On the palate, youthful fruit and long cassis finish. My and the group's #3 of 4.
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New York Wine Experience 2018 (New York Marriott Marquis): 65% Cabernet and 35% Malbec, this is one of the leading wines in Argentina, It is a wonderful blend between Cabernet and Malbec, the two grapes really shine and help shape this wine wonderfully, Age is not a question as it is really only entering into its drinking window now. Fruit forward, fine tannins, chocolate and spice. The finish is short but enjoyable.
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Opaque ruby with purple tint. Expressive nose of black and red currants, kirsh, bell pepper, sweet wood spices and vanilla, some leather, pencil lead and liquorice. Full body, lots of ripe sweet tannins, forward, rich with good mid palate concentration. Lack finess & typicity but flavourful with intermixing flavours between ripe fruits/sweet oak/secondary notes. Still young.
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Nice cab blend. Decanted 1 hr. Has nice cedar and some crunchy red fruit notes on nose, decent body and mouthfeel. QPR terrible for me as I bought it this year, but maybe better on release? Tasted a bit like cooler elevation but still ripe cab from west coast US at maybe $50?
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Arômes de garrigue, sucre d'orge, crème brulée, fleurs blanches... Saveurs de fruits noirs bien sucrés (bleuet) et d'épices... Bien charpenté et ferme mais gras. Équilibré, complexe mais encore jeune. Excellent ! Attendre pour la prochaine bouteille après 2020. 94+
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A bit plummy and generic on the nose, which is a bit flat. Palate better, though not fine: texturally pedestrian. I can't distinguish what grape or grapes this might be, though it carries Malbec's plummy anonymity without the rustic, woodsy charms of Cahors, so I'd guess there's plenty of that in there. Rich and ripe anyway. Comes up a bit short. Well-made wine which I can't find anything to get excited about or interest me. Massively overpriced. Such a heavy bottle: surely a chunk of the bottle price is due to the shipping costs for that! Will not re-buy this cuvee. 89+
[Edit - I looked it up: it's 35% Malbec and 65% Cabernet Sauvignon. I couldn't discern the Cab Sav!]
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Interesting to taste something so familiar yet just slightly different in a few ways. The 35% malbec really adds a lot of darker and earthier flavors here. All of those blackberry and boysenberry type fruits (mullberry, loganberry?). You wonder if this is how bdx used to taste in the past. Oak and alcohol are evident, but not obscenely so. Good wine for about 60 bucks but I wouldn't want to pay a whole lot more. Definitely in prime drinking window.
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65% CS 35% MC. Very deep color, Attractive nose sweet dark cherries, mulberries, ripe cassis, lifted violets, mint, polished oak. Lovely palate elegant, definitely not a full throttle powerhouse, very layered, complex, especially after some air the freshness came more upfront. Tannins are perfectly integrated. An iconic wine which will definitely improve in 5-7 years. Absolutely worth the € 60,- pricetag and a perfect pairing with some nicely grilled Côte de Boeuf!
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Bordeaux Blends (Jason's house): Decanted a couple hours, but in a liquor decanter that doesn't allow much breathing. Tart, sour cherry dominates. This wine has great elegance, although it is quite lean and acidic. I'm wondering if it will integrate further and take on weight, or become more acidic with time. I hope its the former.
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In the bouquet concentrated dark berries and cherries. On the palate juicy dark berries, herbs and spices, good acidity and tannin with a pleasant bite. Good length and future.
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Still in the adolescence stage. This wine has a wonderful expression of dark fruit, granite and underbrush. Everything is well integrated here. Magnificent juice with many years ahead of enjoyment to come.
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Pnp, this hits you as immediately approachable forward fruit bomb (in a good way). Blueberry, dark cherries, very good concentration. Surprising that this 60pct Cab Sav and only 30pct Malbec, to me tastes like more equal weighting. The wine spent 24 months in new 100 pct new French oak, for that the wood is very much in the background, ever so subtle. Had half a bottle over 2.5 hours, went well with homemade bolognese and pasta. The only thing I must admit is that after a couple glasses I am growing a bit tired of it. It just lacks the nuances and complexity to be a truly great wine and to move me more. Very good. But for the price I stick to Bdx for more complex wines and pleasure as a personal preference. I am sure this wine will hold for many years, I just don't see it getting (much) better.
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Drunk from 6l imperial over 3 days. I was a bit worried about this wine as I have a lot of it (initially bought for my wedding but decided it was too young at the time so cellared it). I needn't of worried as it was showing really well and improved on day 2. Dark, brooding and youthful. Bold and fruity. I'm pretty sure this will improve and have a long life, especially in larger formats.
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Occasional tasting group (By TBa @ WN Top South America plus some extra's.): Beautiful and complex bouquet with luxurious oak and ripe dark forest fruits. On the palate everything from the nose comes back. Beautifully fresh acidity, round tannin and very well balanced. It stood beside Léoville Poyferré 2009 and it performed just a little better. For me personally this was the WOTN and with still plenty of future. 95
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This was a great bottle of wine. Landed on 95 pts. Very smooth, not overripe, nice complex nose with dark fruit, leather and roasted meats. Palate was very well balanced with lovely sweet fruit but with nice acidity and soft tannins. More cherry than plummy, but also with a nice cassis core of fruit. Overall a great drinking experience and a fabulous match with grilled rib eye.
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Some wine had seeped out of the cork~ the top was red. The wine was simple, dumb and boring. The finish did last for a while. Did decant twice, it may have opened up in a few hours but we did not give this bottle a chance. Was a decent wine, just not what it was supposed to be by reputation nor price.
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I really love this wine. When younger I likened this to a thunderstorm in your mouth . . . it just kept building and getting stronger! It has mellowed some, with more of the fruit flavors shining through now. Dark cherry, plumb, mesquite, pen ink, blackberry, and a touch of sanguine on the palate. The finish is as long as you can stand it without taking another sip! Really delicious wine.
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heavy vanilla notes, but still good balance. Nose has some green funk. Some good sweetness on the initial taste. Not a long finish, too much oak for my liking.
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EWS -- Wild game and wilder wines dinner: Viscous wine, consistency of an unfiltered cranberry/raspberry compote. Taste of vanilla and raspberry -- 60% cabernet, 30% malbec, petit verdot, cab franc -- the wine has an open, expansive feel, but finishes short, with some unresolved oak. Not enough minerality for my palate.
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Popped and poured. This is a medium purple wine with some decent concentration and mouth-staining capacity. There is some minimal sediment at the end of the bottle. On the nose, this has mint, plum, and a bit of green vegetables. The mouth is a step down fom the nose; the wine is smooth and structured, but lacks fruit and sweetness. The finish ends with a tannic bite. Overall, I suspect this wine may need more time -- perhaps wait to drink until after the NML plaintiffs actually get paid by Argentina. Overall, though, this wine is not moving me and I am dubious it ever evolves into something worth the price. 90 points.
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I'm normally a big fan of this wine and gave the previous bottle a 93. This bottle, unfortunately, wasn't anything special. The nose and flavors were both muted. There was nothing bad about it, just nothing particularly good. I was happy with the previous bottle even at the price, but this bottle was clearly not worth the premium price. I have two more and will revisit in 6+ months.
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Delicious wine, but to my palate there is a sweetness/roundness, almost flabby in the mid palate flaw that makes South American cab inferior to napa/bordeaux. Given, beet glass was last so maybe this improves w time.
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Redcurrant, spice, slate and green elements to the nose. I like the tannin influence on the palate, they are well integrated but provide much needed structure alongside the bright fruit. Good length to it.
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2008 was not as big as some past vintages, but still enough stuffing to keep you at attention. Very well integrated nose of tar, balck/blueberry, violet, iron, and dusty earth. Palate mirrors the nose well. Finish is long, at about 45sec, and well integrated. I feel I drank the bottle over too short a time (4 hours, no decanting) to have done it full justice.
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Part of a wine tasting party, blind compared to a 2007 Robert Young Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Scion and a 2009 Château Behere Courtin, since all three had a similar ranking here on CT. Most people preferred this one, calling it smooth and full flavored. I found the tannins rounded and smooth, and the flavors well-balanced. I enjoyed the 2007 of this and find this to be another excellent wine, slightly softer than the 2007 but still very good.
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From the wine list at Ox, Portland. Decanted at the table, 30-40 minutes before main course arrived. Disappointingly closed nose, and little complexity on the palate. Smooth dark fruit with fine but not overpowering tannins. So a good wine, but not even remotely identifiable as a great wine at this point. Paired with steak and with braised lamb shoulder, which should have been perfect.
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Same score as before. Really like this one. Nose is a bit closed down, but some smoke, dark ripe fruits. A lot of black licorice laced in raspberry and blackberry, meat juice, extremely rich and creamy texture, nice balance, great finish. Not as much oak and alcohol as I tasted before. This is definitely a really solid wine and well made.
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Decanted 1.5 hrs. Super dark purple. Nose was caramel corn or like those popcorn ball that are stuck together with syrup. Velvety, silky mouth feel. Lot of Vanilla and oak good finish. Super smooth little sour cherry on the back side. Tasty wine, but this night up against complex Bordeaux it was no match.
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92+ points. Enjoyed this one. Very distinct to the region with unique flavor characteristics. A heavy hitter, very meaty, creamy, big wine. Blown up with vanilla, dark ripe fruits, a touch of oakyness. Velvety in mouth, I like the smoothness it has, and very new world sweet flavors all around. Could really taste the nearly 25% malbec it has. Did have a bit of alcohol that came through. Nice one for sure, and probably best with a hearty meal.
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Given some air this wine explodes on the palate and nose, but it has neither sophistication nor depth. I have had this producer's Malbec (Adrianna Wineyard), and Adrianna is more interesting and substantially cheaper. If going for a bordauxblend Catena Alta is an alternative. It sells at half the price, the fruitexplosion is avoided, and instead Alta offers more elegance.
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This wine was discussed very controversial during our tasting. Either you like it, or you don't (maybe even hate it). The extrem long finish was stunning. It was still lingering on the next day. I liked it, although it isn't one of my most favorite wines.
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Obtrusive nose of brett immediately after opening. Most of it blew off after 2 hrs in the decanter. Very smokey nose with black currant, blackberry, blueberry jam, lavender, violets. Such purity of fruit on the medium body palate. Medium + finish. Fine tannins. Very similar to the 07. These are very enjoyable young but require at least 1-2hrs to open up.
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Concentrated dark berry fruit with smoke, mineral and toast highlights. Full and dark with good replays; Ripe and accessible with long term potential. 4/5
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Definitely needs more time. After 4 hours in decanter, it showed some nice fruit in the nose. Maybe a hint of leather at the end? Strong tannins. Let it rest a few years. I will. It does have great potential. it will be great.
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Bodegas Catena Zapata (Mendoza): Yes, expensively crafted. And still very young. Yet… I remain unconvinced. Four-square, dense, packing everything you'd expect, but with this kind'a price tag you kind'a expect the unexpected. Perhaps further cellaring will help. 90+.
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9/11/2023 - DarinC wrote: 87 Points
Plenty of secondary characteristics with some remaining fruit. On the downhill. Drink soon.
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7/21/2023 - bonedoc wrote:
Last bottle. As good as South American cab gets.
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4/14/2023 - NotAWineGuy wrote: 94 Points
Drinking very nicely, smooth long finish.
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3/24/2023 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 93 Points
Bordeaux/Bordeaux blend theme over lunch at Asia Grand. Drank in Grassl 1855.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, purplish ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of integrating vanilla oak, blackberries, black cherries, purple boysenberries, dark meat, smokiness. Oak all integrated into the dark fruit on day 2. Developing.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol (14%), fine high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of purple boysenberries, blackberries, black cherries. Passing flavours of sour dark plums, spice, cassis, graphite, black tobacco, tar. Long finish.
Very good quality. Complex. Felt that this was on the somewhat young side, and certainly the best is yet to be for this. Maybe another 4-5 years might have served this well. Alas my only bottle as usual.
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Malbec.
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5/31/2022 - Darkman Likes this wine: 96 Points
What a standout wine - on the nose a bomb, so full of flavours and intensity. blackberry leather pencil shavings thyme and so on. Really a 5* nose. On the palate, the wine is elegant, sophisticated, and well structured. Lacks a bit of mid-body, definitely the wine is at it‘s peak (or 2-3 years over). The finish is forever. Just a fantastic experience and a privilege to drink an aged Nicolas Catena Zapata!
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3/13/2022 - ChateauDutremble Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wonderful and intense nose of black currant liqueur, black cherry/blueberry preserves, braised meats, and potpourri. Dark fruit, new leather, and lavender flavours. Fine tannins. Full-bodied...umami feel. Structured and dark. Medium-long biting finish on dark chocolate/espresso notes. Amazing with lamb stew! Will hold for another 2-4 years but already great. 94++
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1/26/2022 - Gregmonroe wrote:
WWC - GA (FWC): Tasted blind - deep red in the glass; it was strange - on the nose I got diesel and raw meat, with maybe a slight blue fruit undertone. I had never experienced the diesel (as opposed to the petrol smell of a riesling). It was certainly complex. High tannins on the palate, and muted and stewed blue and black fruits. I guessed a CDP.
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1/27/2021 - pkouchu wrote: 92 Points
spiced plum, tobacco, black currant, dried lavender, bell pepper, and sweet oak.
ripe palate, heavy and slightly creamy with a mineral backbone. Acidity is there, tannins are smoothed
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1/27/2021 - bonedoc wrote: 91 Points
A slightly burnt/off aftertaste held this wine back.
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12/26/2020 - bonedoc wrote: 94 Points
Xmas eve tasting w pellet grill prime rib, and retaste 2nd night.
2010 larkmead LMV
2008 Nicolas catena zapata
2009 insignia
2009 QC
I’m shocked to say that the best wine was the catena... ripe, balanced, not a blockbuster, but no flaws.
Insignia was flat, the palate was of little interest.
LMV was second best, a little more round on the palate.
QC is always solid, but the fruit profile (to my palate) delves into burnt, black fruits which is not my favorite.
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11/2/2020 - fscov Likes this wine: 94 Points
Outstanding. Need 2 hours decanting
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4/3/2020 - Rasmussenbrent wrote: 91 Points
Opens up quickly
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4/1/2020 - dafmd Likes this wine: 92 Points
DnP: some currant on pour; dark ruby; inkwell on nose, medium bodied, increased underbrush mid-palate; smooth tannins with lasting finish; excellent with Perini Ranch steak (if you haven’t had Perini Ranch steak, it is a must)
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3/14/2020 - bonedoc wrote: 91 Points
Ditto last note.
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9/25/2019 - webbaker Likes this wine: 94 Points
This was one of those lone bottles that had been hanging out in my cellar for quite some time. I thought it was 100% malbec, but it is 65% cab and 35% malbec. Really a wonderful wine, nice combination of the classic cab flavors with a touch of spicy-ness from the malbec. Perhaps approaching end of life, tasted like it was beginning the down side.
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9/16/2019 - kcst1300 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Insipid on day one, much more expressive day 2 and 3. Graphite, dense dark fruit, spicy. Nice wine but not a good value..
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8/10/2019 - bonedoc wrote: 94 Points
Nicely done South American cab/Malbec blend, but different fruit profile than USA Cabernet.
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3/10/2019 - Rob-Rah Likes this wine: 92 Points
A rather nice showing. Pours dark purple. Youthful looking. Nice scents. Clearly Bordeaux blend. Satiny and dense fruit, cassis with a bit of graphite and underbrush. not amazingly compelling though, and not seamless: some stern acids and tannins. On balance, still not living up its price.
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2/7/2019 - jeginmt Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent Bordeaux style wine. Needed long decant to open up. Dark, full bodied, rich fruit. Holding up very well. No signs of aging.
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12/8/2018 - Rob-Rah Likes this wine: 91 Points
This was much better than previous tastes. This bottle with some development and as such the sous-bois, mushroomy notes are very pleasing alongside the still-vibrant fruit. 91 (+?)
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11/29/2018 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 93 Points
Monthly Men's Wine Dinner (2120 Restaurant, Seattle): This required a brief decant to open up. I got a smoked meat nose, unusual for a Cabernet-Malbec blend. On the palate, youthful fruit and long cassis finish. My and the group's #3 of 4.
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10/19/2018 - Alexander Smith Likes this wine: 93 Points
New York Wine Experience 2018 (New York Marriott Marquis): 65% Cabernet and 35% Malbec, this is one of the leading wines in Argentina, It is a wonderful blend between Cabernet and Malbec, the two grapes really shine and help shape this wine wonderfully, Age is not a question as it is really only entering into its drinking window now. Fruit forward, fine tannins, chocolate and spice. The finish is short but enjoyable.
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8/9/2018 - wineappellation Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opaque ruby with purple tint. Expressive nose of black and red currants, kirsh, bell pepper, sweet wood spices and vanilla, some leather, pencil lead and liquorice. Full body, lots of ripe sweet tannins, forward, rich with good mid palate concentration. Lack finess & typicity but flavourful with intermixing flavours between ripe fruits/sweet oak/secondary notes. Still young.
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7/20/2018 - Babik Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice cab blend. Decanted 1 hr. Has nice cedar and some crunchy red fruit notes on nose, decent body and mouthfeel. QPR terrible for me as I bought it this year, but maybe better on release? Tasted a bit like cooler elevation but still ripe cab from west coast US at maybe $50?
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7/14/2018 - ChateauDutremble Likes this wine: 94 Points
Arômes de garrigue, sucre d'orge, crème brulée, fleurs blanches... Saveurs de fruits noirs bien sucrés (bleuet) et d'épices... Bien charpenté et ferme mais gras. Équilibré, complexe mais encore jeune. Excellent ! Attendre pour la prochaine bouteille après 2020. 94+
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6/21/2018 - Rob-Rah wrote: 89 Points
A bit plummy and generic on the nose, which is a bit flat. Palate better, though not fine: texturally pedestrian. I can't distinguish what grape or grapes this might be, though it carries Malbec's plummy anonymity without the rustic, woodsy charms of Cahors, so I'd guess there's plenty of that in there. Rich and ripe anyway. Comes up a bit short. Well-made wine which I can't find anything to get excited about or interest me. Massively overpriced. Such a heavy bottle: surely a chunk of the bottle price is due to the shipping costs for that! Will not re-buy this cuvee. 89+
[Edit - I looked it up: it's 35% Malbec and 65% Cabernet Sauvignon. I couldn't discern the Cab Sav!]
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6/18/2018 - bonedoc wrote: 92 Points
2009 Cami pesseroles: much better than FB. Ripe, rich, good balance. 93
2008 Nicolas catena zapata : well made generic red wine, but there’s never been a place in my palate for South America Cabernet. 92
2009 ferrer bobet priorat: lacking depth, lighter in fruit and body than the others. 90
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1/20/2018 - jeffreylubowski Likes this wine: 92 Points
Interesting to taste something so familiar yet just slightly different in a few ways. The 35% malbec really adds a lot of darker and earthier flavors here. All of those blackberry and boysenberry type fruits (mullberry, loganberry?). You wonder if this is how bdx used to taste in the past. Oak and alcohol are evident, but not obscenely so. Good wine for about 60 bucks but I wouldn't want to pay a whole lot more. Definitely in prime drinking window.
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8/27/2017 - JWdeSommelier wrote: 94 Points
65% CS 35% MC. Very deep color, Attractive nose sweet dark cherries, mulberries, ripe cassis, lifted violets, mint, polished oak. Lovely palate elegant, definitely not a full throttle powerhouse, very layered, complex, especially after some air the freshness came more upfront. Tannins are perfectly integrated. An iconic wine which will definitely improve in 5-7 years. Absolutely worth the € 60,- pricetag and a perfect pairing with some nicely grilled Côte de Boeuf!
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7/23/2017 - galewskj wrote: 92 Points
Bordeaux Blends (Jason's house): Decanted a couple hours, but in a liquor decanter that doesn't allow much breathing. Tart, sour cherry dominates. This wine has great elegance, although it is quite lean and acidic. I'm wondering if it will integrate further and take on weight, or become more acidic with time. I hope its the former.
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5/14/2017 - bonedoc wrote:
Same as previous notes, delicious and well-made wine, but I am not a fan of Cabernet from South America.
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5/11/2017 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
In the bouquet concentrated dark berries and cherries. On the palate juicy dark berries, herbs and spices, good acidity and tannin with a pleasant bite. Good length and future.
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3/12/2017 - Oldmanzin Likes this wine: 96 Points
Still in the adolescence stage. This wine has a wonderful expression of dark fruit, granite and underbrush. Everything is well integrated here. Magnificent juice with many years ahead of enjoyment to come.
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1/18/2017 - bonedoc wrote: 93 Points
Outstanding and well made, but the fruit profile is quite different from California cab.
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12/4/2016 - bonedoc wrote: flawed
Corked!
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11/5/2016 - BenBlu Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pnp, this hits you as immediately approachable forward fruit bomb (in a good way). Blueberry, dark cherries, very good concentration. Surprising that this 60pct Cab Sav and only 30pct Malbec, to me tastes like more equal weighting. The wine spent 24 months in new 100 pct new French oak, for that the wood is very much in the background, ever so subtle. Had half a bottle over 2.5 hours, went well with homemade bolognese and pasta. The only thing I must admit is that after a couple glasses I am growing a bit tired of it. It just lacks the nuances and complexity to be a truly great wine and to move me more. Very good. But for the price I stick to Bdx for more complex wines and pleasure as a personal preference. I am sure this wine will hold for many years, I just don't see it getting (much) better.
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10/17/2016 - Sirmika wrote: 87 Points
Sehr enttäuschend.
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9/2/2016 - jamie24 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drunk from 6l imperial over 3 days. I was a bit worried about this wine as I have a lot of it (initially bought for my wedding but decided it was too young at the time so cellared it). I needn't of worried as it was showing really well and improved on day 2. Dark, brooding and youthful. Bold and fruity. I'm pretty sure this will improve and have a long life, especially in larger formats.
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8/10/2016 - Romol Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Not as good as the 2005 or 2007. Nevertheless a good bottle. 92 pts at the moment in a few years maybe 93+.
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6/24/2016 - Marcosuru wrote: 88 Points
Not Good. Maybe heated? Horrible QPR Long decant and still doesn't work at all
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5/7/2016 - R&R Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still amazing. Thunderstorm on your palate.
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4/15/2016 - Zweder wrote: 95 Points
Occasional tasting group (By TBa @ WN Top South America plus some extra's.): Beautiful and complex bouquet with luxurious oak and ripe dark forest fruits. On the palate everything from the nose comes back. Beautifully fresh acidity, round tannin and very well balanced. It stood beside Léoville Poyferré 2009 and it performed just a little better. For me personally this was the WOTN and with still plenty of future. 95
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3/13/2016 - cdp1276 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really lost its finish vs the previous one I drank a few years back.
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2/14/2016 - LFCHALA wrote: 90 Points
Good acidity. Unidimensional. Good with BBQ.
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12/15/2015 - bhof2121 wrote: 87 Points
Not as exciting as I hoped.
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7/25/2015 - btumpak Likes this wine: 94 Points
Smooth
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7/16/2015 - thebonnydooner wrote: 95 Points
This was a great bottle of wine. Landed on 95 pts. Very smooth, not overripe, nice complex nose with dark fruit, leather and roasted meats. Palate was very well balanced with lovely sweet fruit but with nice acidity and soft tannins. More cherry than plummy, but also with a nice cassis core of fruit. Overall a great drinking experience and a fabulous match with grilled rib eye.
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6/19/2015 - R&R Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still a great wine, but starting to show age.
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5/31/2015 - ekirby wrote: 90 Points
Some wine had seeped out of the cork~ the top was red. The wine was simple, dumb and boring. The finish did last for a while. Did decant twice, it may have opened up in a few hours but we did not give this bottle a chance. Was a decent wine, just not what it was supposed to be by reputation nor price.
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5/13/2015 - cdp1276 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent bottle!!!
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4/24/2015 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Loved it as always
CHWC Catena tasting
No specific notes taken
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3/7/2015 - R&R Likes this wine: 94 Points
I really love this wine. When younger I likened this to a thunderstorm in your mouth . . . it just kept building and getting stronger! It has mellowed some, with more of the fruit flavors shining through now. Dark cherry, plumb, mesquite, pen ink, blackberry, and a touch of sanguine on the palate. The finish is as long as you can stand it without taking another sip! Really delicious wine.
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1/24/2015 - bhof2121 wrote: 90 Points
Was delicious, though not as complex as we had hoped. Felt a bit flat. Maybe bottle or vintage specific?
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1/21/2015 - oski wrote: 93 Points
heavy vanilla notes, but still good balance. Nose has some green funk. Some good sweetness on the initial taste. Not a long finish, too much oak for my liking.
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12/30/2014 - Ornumsi wrote: 91 Points
#2
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11/3/2014 - swapdoc wrote:
EWS -- Wild game and wilder wines dinner: Viscous wine, consistency of an unfiltered cranberry/raspberry compote. Taste of vanilla and raspberry -- 60% cabernet, 30% malbec, petit verdot, cab franc -- the wine has an open, expansive feel, but finishes short, with some unresolved oak. Not enough minerality for my palate.
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9/6/2014 - whitmanlholt wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured. This is a medium purple wine with some decent concentration and mouth-staining capacity. There is some minimal sediment at the end of the bottle. On the nose, this has mint, plum, and a bit of green vegetables. The mouth is a step down fom the nose; the wine is smooth and structured, but lacks fruit and sweetness. The finish ends with a tannic bite. Overall, I suspect this wine may need more time -- perhaps wait to drink until after the NML plaintiffs actually get paid by Argentina. Overall, though, this wine is not moving me and I am dubious it ever evolves into something worth the price. 90 points.
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6/13/2014 - Crunge wrote: 89 Points
I'm normally a big fan of this wine and gave the previous bottle a 93. This bottle, unfortunately, wasn't anything special. The nose and flavors were both muted. There was nothing bad about it, just nothing particularly good. I was happy with the previous bottle even at the price, but this bottle was clearly not worth the premium price. I have two more and will revisit in 6+ months.
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5/31/2014 - Caligrrl Likes this wine:
Really nice blend. Perfect with grilled meats.
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5/1/2014 - NeuroWine wrote: 91 Points
Nicely complimented grilled Japanese beef. Not very complex, a bit disappointing for price.
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4/26/2014 - bonedoc wrote: 94 Points
Delicious wine, but to my palate there is a sweetness/roundness, almost flabby in the mid palate flaw that makes South American cab inferior to napa/bordeaux. Given, beet glass was last so maybe this improves w time.
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4/14/2014 - CamWheeler wrote: 89 Points
Redcurrant, spice, slate and green elements to the nose. I like the tannin influence on the palate, they are well integrated but provide much needed structure alongside the bright fruit. Good length to it.
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3/8/2014 - R&R Likes this wine: 92 Points
2008 was not as big as some past vintages, but still enough stuffing to keep you at attention. Very well integrated nose of tar, balck/blueberry, violet, iron, and dusty earth. Palate mirrors the nose well. Finish is long, at about 45sec, and well integrated. I feel I drank the bottle over too short a time (4 hours, no decanting) to have done it full justice.
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1/17/2014 - Crunge wrote: 93 Points
Part of a wine tasting party, blind compared to a 2007 Robert Young Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Scion and a 2009 Château Behere Courtin, since all three had a similar ranking here on CT. Most people preferred this one, calling it smooth and full flavored. I found the tannins rounded and smooth, and the flavors well-balanced. I enjoyed the 2007 of this and find this to be another excellent wine, slightly softer than the 2007 but still very good.
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1/16/2014 - M.Batard wrote: 88 Points
From the wine list at Ox, Portland. Decanted at the table, 30-40 minutes before main course arrived. Disappointingly closed nose, and little complexity on the palate. Smooth dark fruit with fine but not overpowering tannins. So a good wine, but not even remotely identifiable as a great wine at this point. Paired with steak and with braised lamb shoulder, which should have been perfect.
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10/16/2013 - LFCHALA Likes this wine: 92 Points
Indeed a great wine. New and young, it is true, but with a nice balance, aromas and freshness
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7/24/2013 - SonnyChiba wrote: 92 Points
Same score as before. Really like this one. Nose is a bit closed down, but some smoke, dark ripe fruits. A lot of black licorice laced in raspberry and blackberry, meat juice, extremely rich and creamy texture, nice balance, great finish. Not as much oak and alcohol as I tasted before. This is definitely a really solid wine and well made.
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6/8/2013 - RickyT12 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted 1.5 hrs. Super dark purple. Nose was caramel corn or like those popcorn ball that are stuck together with syrup. Velvety, silky mouth feel. Lot of Vanilla and oak good finish. Super smooth little sour cherry on the back side. Tasty wine, but this night up against complex Bordeaux it was no match.
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6/8/2013 - SonnyChiba wrote: 92 Points
92+ points. Enjoyed this one. Very distinct to the region with unique flavor characteristics. A heavy hitter, very meaty, creamy, big wine. Blown up with vanilla, dark ripe fruits, a touch of oakyness. Velvety in mouth, I like the smoothness it has, and very new world sweet flavors all around. Could really taste the nearly 25% malbec it has. Did have a bit of alcohol that came through. Nice one for sure, and probably best with a hearty meal.
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5/30/2013 - Sundbyberg wrote: 89 Points
Given some air this wine explodes on the palate and nose, but it has neither sophistication nor depth.
I have had this producer's Malbec (Adrianna Wineyard), and Adrianna is more interesting and substantially cheaper.
If going for a bordauxblend Catena Alta is an alternative. It sells at half the price, the fruitexplosion is avoided, and instead Alta offers more elegance.
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1/4/2013 - Coralspringscom wrote:
needs to breath at least 1 hour then this wine explodes in flavor. one of the best Argentine wines I have tasted.
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12/7/2012 - drum-wine wrote: 92 Points
This wine was discussed very controversial during our tasting. Either you like it, or you don't (maybe even hate it). The extrem long finish was stunning. It was still lingering on the next day. I liked it, although it isn't one of my most favorite wines.
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11/23/2012 - DarinC wrote: 91 Points
Obtrusive nose of brett immediately after opening. Most of it blew off after 2 hrs in the decanter. Very smokey nose with black currant, blackberry, blueberry jam, lavender, violets. Such purity of fruit on the medium body palate. Medium + finish. Fine tannins. Very similar to the 07. These are very enjoyable young but require at least 1-2hrs to open up.
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11/13/2012 - Double-A Likes this wine: 90 Points
Concentrated dark berry fruit with smoke, mineral and toast highlights. Full and dark with good replays; Ripe and accessible with long term potential.
4/5
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7/15/2012 - fanglangzhe Does not like this wine: 80 Points
Red fruits, medicinal & slightly artificial tasting. Terrible QPR.
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7/10/2012 - kelliher3 wrote:
Great wine that deserves a great meal.
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6/12/2012 - Mungam wrote: 89 Points
I am sure it should wait a few years but it is still a great wine already.
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6/3/2012 - Mungam wrote: 90 Points
Definitely needs more time. After 4 hours in decanter, it showed some nice fruit in the nose. Maybe a hint of leather at the end? Strong tannins. Let it rest a few years. I will. It does have great potential. it will be great.
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12/12/2011 - Timbalimba wrote: 90 Points
Bodegas Catena Zapata (Mendoza): Yes, expensively crafted. And still very young. Yet… I remain unconvinced. Four-square, dense, packing everything you'd expect, but with this kind'a price tag you kind'a expect the unexpected. Perhaps further cellaring will help. 90+.
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